It was late in the morning upon the return arrival of Julian and the Fusions. Julian kept in constant update with the cargo plane to check on the status of the injured workers, including Brea. Despite their condition, the poison only caused mild discomfort and could be easily endured for the trip. It still made for a rough trip back. Hawkins wasn't feeling too well from the dark poisoner's toxin, either. It was shameful to think this is what nearly did him in. A Poison-Type brought to his knees by a poison. How disgraceful a defeat.
Julian and the Fusions stepped off the plane, with Ulysses carrying Hawkins in his back. Hawkins clearly wasn't thrilled about being carried around, but it couldn't be helped. As for Ulysses and Asadi's injuries, they were treated during the ride back. Though, they'll probably need to be checked out by Gracelyn.
Julian carried the file drawer under one arm and the cube in his upper hands. He faced the Fusions and said, "I'll have one of my workers drop you three off at the village."
Asadi smiled. "That'll be great, thank you."
"And, before I forget, please hand this to Gracelyn." He handed her a sheet of paper. It had a list of names and addresses. "That's everyone affected by that Rogue's poison. Make sure the antidote is delivered to them."
Asadi looked it over quickly and nodded. "Can do, sir!"
He scratched his head and sighed. "Feel bad for the Unovians, since we left those three Rogues behind. Well, if it's a problem, someone will just call the Fusion Hunters on them." He texted one of his workers before heading off. "You three take care."
Ulysses waved meekly. "B-Bye, Mr. Roteman."
"See you later!" Asadi exclaimed. The two heard Hawkins groaning out loud. "Alright, alright, we hear you. Come on, Uly, let's go find our ride." They headed out of the airfield.
Up front in the airport, Julian found his parked car and stuffed the supplies into the back. He got into his seat and started the car up. "It's going to take some time to get this stuff analyzed. I'll have to contact Albert about this." He backed out of the parking space and drove out of the airport.
In the backseat, bouncing from the bumps in the road, the cube lit up with a low hum. It seemed focused on Julian before resuming dormancy.
The worker Julian called dropped the Fusions off at Gappei Village, where their first stop back was the medical hut. Thankfully, Gracelyn was up when they got there, allowing her to get everything set up. Ulysses set Hawkins in a bed before sitting down with Asadi off to the side.
Gracelyn opened her cupboard of medicine and searched for the antidote specifically made for Eli's poison. "I swear, those Rogues are like a plague that persists on. They're determined, I'll give them that much." She glanced at Hawkins. "Still, you shouldn't have been so hasty to fight him, Hawkins."
The Roserade-Meowstic held his stomach and groaned uncomfortably. "How…was I supposed to know that stuff could poison me? I didn't know it worked on Poison-Types, too."
"Regardless, you'll have to take it easy for the next couple of days. No tough training for you or your students." Gracelyn pulled a rack of antidotes out. "Ah, here we go."
Asadi sighed out loud and pressed the back of her head against the wall. "Those guys were seriously tough, though. Are all the Rogues like this?"
Ulysses gulped. "G-G-Guess even they aren't s-slacking off on t-t-training…"
Asadi smirked tiredly and rolled her eyes. "Kind of liked it better when we thought they were just power-hungry nut jobs."
Gracelyn transferred the vials of antidote into a small bag. "Asadi, regardless of moral alignment, the Rogues aren't like the supervillains you see on television."
The Raichu-Sneasel waved it off. "I know, I know."
Gracelyn finished packing the bag and set it to the side. "I'll probably have Spaz or Tamara come by and ship these out. In the meantime…" She took one vial and popped the cork off before pouring the purple liquid into a small, plastic cup. She handed it to Hawkins, who sat up. "Drink this and get some sleep. Oh, and mind the taste." She stepped out to find the time mouse and ninja cat.
Hawkins raised his brow. "'Mind the taste?'" He carefully sipped the medicine and swallowed. His eyes widened, then he stuck his tongue out in disgust. "Ugh! What vile concoction has desecrated my taste buds?!"
Ulysses felt bad for laughing under his breath, instinctively muttering a quick 'sorry' afterwards. Asadi felt no shame in snickering. "Hehe…that's a standard of medicine for you. The worse it tastes, the better it works."
Hawkins shook his head and tossed the cup into a trash can before resting his head on the pillow. "I just need some sleep." He closed his eyes and breathed out calmly.
Asadi stood up. "Come on, Ulysses. Let's give Prince Charming his beauty sleep."
"Shut up…"
Asadi giggled, then reached for the door. The second she touched the handle, she and Ulysses recoiled in shock as a high-pitched squealing penetrated the walls of the hut. Hawkins' eyes snapped open, practically bloodshot in irritation. He sat up and shouted, "What is that infernal screaming?!"
Ulysses' face twisted in terror. "Is someone in trouble?!"
Asadi, however, tilted her head in puzzlement. "No, I think I've heard this type of screaming before. Sounds like a fangirling squeal…"
It was supposed to be a normal visit to the village. Sometime before Hawkins, Asadi, and Ulysses returned to the village, York's friend, Casey Lee, dropped in for a visit. Since she had some free time on her hands, she wanted to hang out with the Heliolisk-Haxorus and get to Gappei Village for the first time. She had to call in advance to get permission due to village policy. The council was kind enough to give her free access.
York and Casey were simply hanging out by the outdoor tables, catching up since last time, when Casey got a little surprise clinging to her arm. It was Marion, who not only stared at the music artist with starry eyes, but was also squealing at the top of her lungs in sheer joy.
York covered his ears and winced painfully. "I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THIS!"
Casey waved it off with a weary grin, only wincing slightly. "IT'S FINE! I'D BE LYING IF I SAID THIS HAS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE!"
Thankfully, the madness halted for a short while as Emily walked over with her hutmates and Annabeth and pulled the awestruck Emolga off her arm. "Geez, kid! You have a control setting for that volume?"
Marion ignored her and flailed her arms excitedly. "Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh!"
Annabeth giggled under her breath. "Now Marion, you know it's rude to tackle people without warning."
"But Mom! It's Casey Lee!" Marion squealed.
Dez rubbed his head tiredly. Yeah…the celebrity appeal kind of wears off after a while.
Casey, not at all fazed by the Emolga's fangirling, held her hand out with a friendly grin. "Nice to meet you, Marion. I take it you're a fan of my work?"
Marion's eyes boggled in shock, then she smiled widely. "EEEE! She knows my name!" She went for another screech, but Emily covered her mouth with an irritated look.
"No more of that!" she scolded.
Charlie laughed awkwardly. "Heh…sorry about that, Casey. If we knew she'd bolt after you like that, we would have chained her down." Marion pouted at the Munchlax-Lilligant.
Casey waved it off with a chuckle. "No trouble."
Annabeth stepped forward and held her hand out. "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Lee. I'm Annabeth, Marion's mother."
Casey shook her hand. "Casey's just fine. It's nice to meet you too, Annabeth."
Dez tilted his head. "I'm surprised you could come. York keeps telling us how you're normally busy."
Casey sighed and rubbed the back of her head. "Yeah, I'm usually swamped with work thanks to my manager. Great at his job and all, but he can be a little clingy with his clients. I don't think he'd be very happy if he knew I was here." She shrugged with a smile. "But hey, that's not going to stop me."
Charlie smiled. "So, are you liking Gappei Village so far?"
Casey nodded. "It's lovely. I can see why York speaks so highly about it." She leaned back against the table. "Trust me, with how many cities I've been to, you always find people at each other's throats. Typical in most communities. But here? Everything feels so peaceful." York laughed sheepishly.
Asadi and Ulysses stepped out of the medical hut and walked over to the group. Asadi crossed her arms and smirked. "Hey, the owner of the squealing machine? Mind turning it down? Hawkins has enough of a headache already."
Annabeth smiled apologetically. "Very sorry, dear. Marion just got a little excited." Marion nodded with a muffled squeak.
The Heliolisk Fusion sat up straight and leaned against the table on his elbow. "Wasn't aware you three were back. How was digging?"
Ulysses had a horrid flash of outrunning those robots cross his mind. He shivered in his gelatinous layer and hugged himself. "Um…i-i-it was something…"
York blinked, then looked at Asadi. "Is he okay?"
"Um…maybe?" She then whispered, "Don't be surprised if he comes to you for therapy, though." She smiled carefreely. "But, everything went…alright, I guess. With Hawkins resting and Ulysses…kind of out of it, I'll have to write up our report." She groaned tiredly. "Ugh, work…" She smiled at Casey. "Nice to see you, Casey." The Charmeleon waved.
Emily set Marion down and held her hips. "Are you calm now?"
Marion jittered in place with a huge grin. "Y-Yep!" Emily rolled her eyes, unconvinced. Marion pinched herself, removing the last of her jitters. She smiled bashfully at Casey. "Sorry! I couldn't help myself! I really love your music!"
Casey smirked. "Would have never guessed," she joked.
"I listen to them all the time on loop when I'm working on our farm back home. It helps energize me!"
Annabeth giggled and rubbed her daughter's head. "Oh, my little sweet pea really loves music. She's been teaching herself to operate sound equipment for her school's theatre department."
Marion blushed bashfully and rubbed her arm with an awkward grin. "I…can't really sing, but I'm good with music."
Casey smiled. "That's pretty impressive for someone your age." Marion smiled widely and resumed jittering excitedly. "Eheh…she's going to squeal again, isn't she?"
Emily groaned and slapped her hand over the Emolga's mouth. "Don't even think about it, kid." She could feel the muffled squeals hitting against the hand. The Mawile-Froslass rubbed her temple in annoyance.
Marion calmed herself down and laughed it off. "Sorry. I still can't believe you're really here!"
The Charmeleon gestured to York. "Well, I did want to spend some time with this lovable idiot here." York chuckled aloud.
Marion tilted her head. "Oh…is he your boyfriend?"
Both teens froze up in surprise, blushes plastered across their faces. York waved his hands defensively. "N-N-No, not at all! We're just friends! Nothing more! No dating over here or anything!"
Marion deadpanned. "Dude, I was just asking. No need to act jumpy."
York felt sweat drip down his face as he awkwardly laughed it off. "R-R-Right, no reason at all…" He looked to the side and gasped out in embarrassment. Casey held her hand to her mouth and giggled with a small blush.
Dez smiled. "So Casey, what's it like being a music artist, anyway?"
After her face cooled down (as much as a Fire-Type could), Casey rubbed her chin, going through her memories. "Hmm…well, I do have some interesting stories to tell…"
She went on to talk about some of her experiences in the music world, as everyone paid attention with great interest. York listened in on the story as well, but his attention was pulled away towards Asadi and Ulysses, with the former tapping his shoulder with her tail. He flashed them a curious look, wondering what they wanted.
Asadi waved away from the group. "Can we…talk to you in private?" she asked quietly.
York raised his brow. That wasn't Asadi's usual cheery or snarky tone. Very rarely did he ever hear her speak with utmost seriousness. Well, maybe not utmost seriousness, but still a tone she rarely used. York looked at the others before standing up and excusing himself as he followed Ulysses and Asadi behind a hut to speak in private.
York crossed his arms and leaned against the hut. "Is everything okay?"
Asadi waved her hands. "Oh, we're fine. It's just that…things didn't go exactly as planned." She narrowed her eyes. "The Rogues tagged along without us knowing."
York's eyes widened. "What?"
Ulysses nodded timidly. "I-It's true. T-They even mentioned you, so…it was rather obvious…"
The armored lizard held his face and groaned in frustration. "You've got to be kidding me…"
Asadi shrugged. "Well, fortunately, we made sure they wouldn't get on our planes a second time. So, they're currently stuck in Unova. For how long? Beats me."
York sighed. "Do you know why they tracked you down?"
"W-We felt it had s-s-something to do with what Mr. Roteman found in the desert," Ulysses said. "T-They must have been spying on him and got c-curious."
York pinched between his eyes. He probably had an idea who pulled off a risky stunt like that, but he had to be sure. "Who was it that attacked you?"
"The weird poison guy," Asadi identified. "The same one who poisoned Wash and Sheila on your mission."
York grimaced. He hated that he was correct. "Eli…"
Ulysses gulped nervously. "Y-Y-You don't sound happy…"
York rubbed his temples, visibly annoyed with the mentioning of the dark poisoner. "Eli…is one of the craftiest, maybe even most dangerous, member of the Rogues. He's twisted, cunning, and even downright sadistic. You can't trust a thing he says or does if you're the enemy." York glanced off to the side. "I remember my days with the Rogues clearly. Eli was amazing at what he did, but you should never get on his bad side. That's when the worst is brought out."
Asadi scratched her head. "We noticed. He was also…pretty showy."
"Eli has a flair for the dramatics. Always trying to show off or make himself stand out. He's not one for subtly when he wants to be noticed." York glared. "And you're absolutely sure he didn't get back on the plane with you guys?"
Ulysses gave a fidgety nod. "D-Definitely."
York held his hips and paced around in a circle. He grunted quietly. "…well, knowing Eli, something as complex as crossing regions shouldn't be too hard for him. Who else was with him?"
"A cheeky little Aipom-Kecleon and a rather aggressive Zebrastrika-Vikavolt," Asadi named off.
"I'm not familiar with those two." York clenched his teeth. "They keep bringing in new recruits off the streets. Misguided Fusions probably seeking revenge for the hardship they've endured." York closed his eyes. "There's no telling how much the Rogues' numbers have increased since I've last been there. With all the inactivity for the last few weeks, we don't know what they're scheming."
Asadi raised her brow questionably. "Don't you think you're overanalyzing this? This was probably some last ditch effort to make quick bucks."
"If they're desperate enough, they'll try anything to stay active." York held his chin. "They haven't attempted big scale robberies in the last few weeks. They're playing it safe solely to keep away from the police."
Ulysses gulped. "W-What does that mean for us?"
"Currently? I don't know." York glared to the side. "Whenever Eli gets involved in stuff like this, it can never end well." He crossed his arms. "However, for now, we shouldn't be worrying about it." He nodded his head over at the group as they still talked. "We don't want to bring unnecessary drama to our guests, after all. If the Rogues continue to stay inactive, that's good for us."
Ulysses smiled in agreement. "Y-Yeah…as long as they aren't doing anything, w-we should be fine…"
Asadi closed her eyes for a moment, then shrugged with a carefree smile. "If you say so." She walked away from them. "Besides, what's the worst that could happen?" she asked rhetorically with a casual shrug.
The cellular avian felt an unnerving chill run up his back. He whimpered quietly. "I-I've heard that line too many times in horror movies…"
The next day rolled along for Grandis City. The sun was high in the sky and shining brightly. It was remarkably slow out, no big rushes or accidents that needed to be attended to. Perfect day for Julian to get to work on his latest project: figuring out what the hell he was looking at.
Julian took the day off from work since he didn't have any important meetings or business to tend to. He sat in the comforts of his suite, wearing his white buttons shirt and black pants. He had a computer set up and a scanner pad for the weird cube to sit on. He used the scanner to examine any internal components of the strange contraption to conclude what its purpose was. So far, he has deduced it wasn't a bomb or experimental weapon.
As he worked on the computer, he was in a call with Dr. Gates. "You know, even for the advancements made in the eighteenth century, this is absurdly beyond anything I've seen today."
"Do you know what it is?" Albert asked.
"Well, it's anything but life-threatening, so we can thankfully cross that off the list of possibilities." He narrowed his eyes. "We're looking at the makings of a brilliant genius here. I haven't even gone over the other equipment we found in the lab."
"Yeah…you told me the Fusions found some sort centrifuge down there," Albert wondered.
"It was hooked up to something on the workstation, but it wasn't in the lab with us." Julian bit his thumb gently as he analyzed the digital reconstruction of the cube. Still nothing he could make heads or tails of. The components were foreign to his knowledge. "If we're looking at advanced technology, we should be looking into what type of Pokémon 'Data' is. Mason Rollins shouldn't be too hard to place a species to."
"Well, if you want species, we could be looking at something like an Alakazam, a Metagross, a Rotom, a Porygon…you know, Pokémon with high intelligence."
"You may be on to something."
"What do we know about Rollins?"
Julian changed tabs on his computer and pulled up what little he could find on Mason Rollins. "Well…says here Mason Rollins was a Flygon. Lived out in Sinnoh, but regularly traveled overseas to the other regions. Guess that explains the lab…" Julian scratched his cheek. "Other than being a genetic researcher and attending Fusion Rights Mobs, there isn't anything on his research other than some recorded term papers of his."
"Sssooo…we've got nothing on him?" Albert concluded.
"Guess so. At the very least, he doesn't fall in line with the list of super intelligent Pokémon on our list. That, however, still leaves us with nothing on Data. No mentions of Mason having a partner, either, or the secret lab."
"Hmm…this is beginning to sound like a cover up. What do you suppose this means for us?"
Julian closed his eyes and sighed. "Given we still don't know who are mystery guy is, we're running into some dead ends unless Arceus decides to throw a miracle at my face." He picked a file up and skimmed the coded message. "I'll have to call my investigation team for the code key. One of these files is bound to hold secrets."
"You're putting quite the workload on yourself," Albert commented.
Julian shrugged. "Maybe a little."
"Maybe you should let me look everything over. In fact, I can handle investigating the cube for you."
Julian smiled wearily. "Appreciate the thought, Gates, but I've got it covered. I'm already dedicated to getting this all cracked. I don't want to stop now."
Albert sighed. "If you say so. Just don't work yourself into a corner."
"I'll try not to. I should let you get back to work. I know you're likely busy."
"Heh, quite a lot these days. Take care, Mr. Roteman." Albert hung up.
Julian slid the cellphone into his pocket, then resumed looking over the digital reconstruction of the cube. From what the scans determined, the cube was lined with sophisticated technology, beyond his own understanding. The strangest part to make of it was the center. Completely hollowed out with an unknown energy flow spiraling around inside. He couldn't identify any specifics other than it wasn't radiation or toxic.
He picked the cube up and looked it over with a strong gaze. "What are your secrets, Data? What is your motivation for working in that lab? What were you aiming for?" He sighed and leaned back. "And more importantly, who's the rat running around my company?"
He set the cube down and resumed analyzing it on his computer. With his mind focused on too many important projects at once, he didn't have the time to think. Whether it be helping the Fusions, working on new equipment, or solving this mystery, he couldn't catch a break. He was only one man, after all. Something needed to be done.
He internally growled, recalling the Rogues and their pestering. "The Rogues…there's no telling how long it'll be before they blow up a gas line or start a full-scale war." He leaned back for a moment. "The Fusion Hunters can only do so much to stop these dangerous pests." He clenched his fist. "I'm only doing the best I can…"
He pinched between his eyes and groaned tiredly. He needed a five-minute break or something. Maybe he could head out to eat a fast food place or something. Something cheap and accessible.
Before he could get up and commit to the plan, a low hum interrupted his thoughts. He glanced down at his coffee table and landed his eyes on the cube. He leaned in closer and made out the quiet humming within the contraption. He narrowed his eyes before picking the device up.
"What the…?" He tapped it a couple times and pressed his ear against it. He then gave it a little shake to see if anything was loose. "Is this thing malfunctioning?"
"Highly illogical."
Julian gasped and dropped the cube near his feet. He sprung from his seat and raised his fists with a vicious glare. "Who's there?! How did you get in my suite?!" He growled. "I swear, if someone broke in, you're in for a world of suffering!"
"Don't act so surprised. I thought I was given consent to enter your abode, considering you are the one who brought me in," the voice argued lightly. And it was coming directly under him.
Julian blinked, then slowly moved his eyes down until they landed on the cube once more. It was stationary and inactive. His eyes narrowed with perplexity and bafflement, then he crouched down and picked the device up. He tapped the front face a few times with uncertainty. Did this thing just…?
Julian shook his head and laughed nervously. "O-Okay Julian, I think you definitely need that break. You're acting like you're hearing-"
"Voices in your head?" the voice finished, this time with Julian hearing the sound coming directly from the cube. It glowed with a mix of red, yellow, and green through each syllable. Julian's face twisted in horror as the cube said, "Funny, with that rectangular, portable device you were using, I thought you'd be used to geometric shapes speaking back."
Like any rational man thinking he lost his mind, Julian dropped the box in panic and jumped onto his couch, keeping his distance from the strange device. "W-W-What the hell?!"
"Ow," the cube groaned, having landed upside down. "Quite a rude first impression, but I'll forgive it."
Julian held his head. "How?! What?! Why?!"
"You seem confused," the cube determined.
Julian jumped over his couch and paced around with panicked eyes. "Am I actually going insane?! There's no way artificial intelligence was invented that far back!"
"Ahem!" Julian stopped pacing and looked back at the cube. "I know I've just woken up from my hibernation, but perhaps you could show some tact to your guest? Brink of madness is no excuse for poor manners."
Julian's eyes then furrowed into a glare. He clenched his upper left fist, then formed a sparking, yellow Focus Blast. He picked the cube up and aimed the attack at it. "Who are you?!"
"Will you get a grip?! I've met superstitious folk who are less paranoid than you! And they were louts who partook in those horrid trials…"
That brought some semblance of sanity back into Julian's mind. His glare soften, then he deactivated the Focus Blast. "…what is this?"
"If you are referring to my current state, what you are observing is my greatest creation ever! Or…maybe second greatest. Haven't really decided yet. Might still be groggy, but can you blame me? Three hundred years of inactiveness and you get to have your first interaction with a crazy Machamp. Will say, though, got some good rest."
"I don't get it," Julian stated, completely lost on the matter. "How advance of an artificial intelligence is this? Can one even experience dreams?" Julian then blinked in realization. "You…said 'current state.'"
"Well, about time we've got that across. Now, may you kindly put me down?" the cube asked.
Julian still felt hesitant and still believed in the back of his mind this was all some self-induced hallucination. However, if he truly wasn't going mad, he was speaking to an intelligent invention that was made in the same lab of the two people he's researching. He'll have to see this through, even if by chance he actually lost his wit.
Julian sat back down and rested the cube on the coffee table. He folded his hands together and sighed tiredly. "Okay…you…have my attention."
"Thank you." The cube hummed for a moment. "I've been aware of everything that happened the moment that timid Fusion pulled me off my stand. Must say, I'm surprised by how much time has passed. Definitely didn't feel like three centuries have passed. Made quite for the restful sleep, though." The cube sighed. "I'm getting off topic. I suppose you're wondering what this is all about."
Julian folded his arms into his lap and leaned forward. "Can you tell me who or what you are?"
"I could, but I rather not. You see, my friend, I come from a time where trust in others…was hard to come by. Frankly, with everyone on edge about Fusions, some were naturally bitter towards each other. Though, seeing as how you're cooperating with Fusions, I take it things actually have changed. If only slightly."
Julian narrowed his eyes. "Well…we've banned Fusion Trials, if that's what you're referring to."
"Oh, how I hated those terrible ordeals. They made my blood boil." Julian raised his brow. "We'll get to explaining that a little later. The point I'm trying to make is, I'm not sure who I can trust in this time. However, seeing as you're a man of innovation like me, I think we can work something out."
"Do you know Mason Rollins or this Data I've been reading up on?" Julian asked.
The cube hummed. "Let's not get too deep into personal life. Does this mean, though, that you're the owner of the bunker file?"
Julian blinked. He must have been referring to that file they found. "No, I'm not exactly. It was found in my building, but I've never seen it before."
"Hmm…I see." Julian narrowed his eyes curiously as the cube suddenly went quiet. He waited for almost two minutes for it to speak up again. "Well, it doesn't matter now. Like I said, I've been perfectly aware of everything the moment I was first picked up. In other words, I know about your little problem regarding these rogue Fusions you speak of."
Julian glared to the side. "I…can't say I'm fond of them." He sighed. "Personally, I wanted them locked away for all the trouble they've caused. My…associate, Liam, doesn't see eye to eye with me. He believes in reformation. I don't necessarily disagree with that train of thought, but there are laws to be taken into account here. I built Gappei Village as a second chance for Fusions…but the Rogues actively cause misery without any regard to the lives of others. We may have had one case of a Rogue stepping away and living in Gappei, but the Rogues are active troublemakers." Julian clenched his teeth. "They even attacked half my crew when we dug you up…"
"Hmm…I'm familiar with troublemaking Fusions. I do agree with you, they need to be taught a lesson for their misdeeds."
"Yes, but it's not that simple now. We have this task force, called the Fusion Hunters, that go after the top priority Fusions causing trouble over the region. Liam, however, doesn't want the bad Fusions to change out of fear, especially since he doesn't trust their activities." Julian glared down. "It's…one of the many reasons we haven't been seeing eye to eye, lately."
"So, this Liam fellow is a man of peace while you are a man of authority? Two contradicting mindsets for the same end goal." The cube hummed. "Well, I see no in these Fusion Hunters."
Julian sighed. "Perhaps, but with rogue Fusions getting stronger each day, it'd be impossible to put them away. Fusion Hunters can only do so much against them, especially if they know how to defend themselves."
"Then my timing couldn't be any more perfect." Julian raised a brow at him. "My friend, I've developed a lot blueprints for ingenious projects that are meant to level harness the power of the Fusion in the hands of a Pokémon. Equipment used to bring peace. Of course, with the times, that kind of tech shouldn't be in the hands of the citizens. I do care for the Fusions as well, so long as they seek to change for the better." The cube sighed. "Sadly, also with the times, I lacked the components necessary to complete my bigger projects. Science was all off and tests have proved…explosive."
Julian crossed his arms. "What are you saying?"
"If you want the means to restore order with a greater success rate, all you need to do is trust me. I shall provide all my advanced secrets while you provide the tech and resources to make them reality. They will be beneficial to the restoration of peace. And, in return for my services, all I ask for is a simple favor I can call upon at any time."
The Machamp raised his brow. "What…kind of favor?"
"Don't know, yet, but is that really too much of a request? My ingenious ideas brought into this new century in exchange for one favor?"
Julian bit the inside of his cheek hesitantly. His feet fidgeted uncomfortably. Was it really worth the risk? This box still refused to give out a name or anything. "I'm not sure…"
"If you're worried about me turning my nonexistent back on you, I can't exactly do anything, especially turn, literally and figuratively. I'm an immobile cube, after all."
Julian scratched his head. "Fair point…" He groaned. "I-I don't know. Part of me is still thinking this is some bizarre dream."
"Take your time to decide on my offer. I promise, my revolutionary ideas will change this world for the better. You have my word," the cube promised.
Julian stood up and rubbed the back of his head. "Riiiight…" He headed to his room. "I'm going to try and sleep over this…"
"You do that." Julian slammed the door behind him. The cube hummed quietly in the living…then sighed tiredly. "…what do Pokémon in this century do for entertainment? Probably should have asked before he left." Silence. "…and, I'm talking to no one…"
After Julian closed his door, he slid down to the floor and held his face. "This is too much for me to take…" He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cellphone. He pulled up Brea's name in his contacts and pressed the call button. He held it up to his ear, mumbling, "Please be awake, please be awake…"
After the third ring, the other end answered. "Ugh…Mr. Roteman?" his secretary muttered. She yawned sleepily. "Do you need something, sir?"
Julian smiled lightly. "I'm not calling over work, Brea…well, sort of, but it's more so I need some advice."
"Advice? What for?"
"I'm working on that cube we found in the desert and I needed an outside party's perspective."
Brea yawned again and said, "Okay…fire away."
"So…if a cube happened to start talking to you out of the blue and offered its trade secrets or expertise to benefit your success, how would you go about it?"
He got a long pause out of her. He honestly expected Brea to laugh at him, though she remained completely serious in her response…sort of. "Oh, is that all? Alright, here's my take on it. I'd hang up right now, get into my car, drive to the nearest hospital, then tell the doctors I'm probably suffering from a heat stroke."
Julian clenched his teeth irritably. "I'M NOT SICK, BREA!" He then held his head and groaned tiredly. "At least…I hope I'm not…"
Brea sighed. "I know. Just my attempt at comedy. How did I do?"
Julian deadpanned. "Brea…"
"Hey, I'm groggy and tired. Cut me some slack." She yawned. "In all seriousness, is that thing actually talking to you?"
Julian glanced at his door wearily. "For the most part…I think it actually is…"
"You did say the tech you found was modern compared to today. I don't know what else to tell you."
"Yes, but it's not just about the technology." He narrowed eyes. "I'm not sure if I can trust this…thing. I'm not even sure what it is."
"Well, that's not my problem until I return to work…"
Julian deadpanned again. "You're a real big help, Brea…"
"Look, if this thing is offering advice to help better Profectus Inc., why refuse? Might as well hear it out and see what it has to offer. Who knows? Might be beneficial for you in the long run. Besides, what's the worst that thing can do? Scuff the floor up?"
Julian sighed. "I suppose you have a point." He shook his head. "I still need more time to get my facts straight."
"Do what you think is right. As for me, I'm going back to bed." Julian smirked as he heard the Musharna yawn loudly. "That poison did a real number on me. I'll be sure to be ready for work this week."
"Take all the time you need, Brea. And thanks. Goodbye." He hung up, then rested the back of his head against the door.
That cube did say trust was essential to keep a stable relationship or partnership. It did set off warnings in the businessman's head, given he has to deal with these sort of actions whenever a deal is thrown in his face, but how much of Data's word can he trust? Not to mention, that favor he'll be holding on to until he can cash it in. Just one favor. What did he have in mind?
Julian sighed and pinched between his eyes. I've taken risks before. That's how I built myself up. Is there harm in taking another?
Deep in the underground hideout of the Rogues, Norris was pacing around with an annoyed scowl across his face. His associates merely stared at him, albeit cautiously, as they didn't want to anger him by giving their input on the situation.
After minutes of pacing, Norris stomped his foot down and roared. "Where! Is! ELI?!" his voice rang across the passageways of the closed off sewer.
Mikayla crossed her arms. "He's been gone for only a few days, Norris."
"Those Gappei Wimps and Roteman have been back since yesterday!" he growled. "This is unacceptable! I expect perfection from that crafty freak! I want my results now!" He threw his hands up. "You don't go promising success of the lifetime without backing up your worth!"
Sunny squeaked fearfully. "What if Mr. Eli was captured by those mean ol' police people?!"
Sullivan raised his brow at her. "We are referring to the same Eli, right?"
Norris cracked his knuckles and huffed through his nostrils. "I don't care if he broke his damn ankle! He better show up soon or something's exploding down here!"
Zoey quickly grabbed Sunny and calmly walked back. "Yeeeah…I'll just be over here…"
However, before anyone could get too anxious, someone walked into the room, drawing their attention forward. It was Augustus, timidly hiding his face. "Um…sir?"
Norris' fury died down a little, but he continued to scowl. "What, kid?" he asked calmly.
"I…just heard from our guards that Eli and the two recruits are back from their mission," he stated quietly.
Norris clenched his teeth. "Finally…tell him to meet with me, now." Augustus nodded and walked away.
Zoey relaxed her nerves and walked back over to the group. "Took him long enough. What do you suppose held him up?"
Mikayla shrugged. "It's Eli. Nothing goes as planned when he gets involved. Always doing things his own way."
A few moments later, Eli entered the large area with Braith and Gordon following behind. Gordon carried a large sack on his back. Eli spread his arms out, signaling a hug to Norris as the mad duck marched over to him. "Norris, my friend, my leader! Did you miss me?" Norris' response to that was socking the dark poisoner in the gut, doubling him over. Despite that, Eli continued to smile, if only painfully. "Nope…didn't miss me at all…"
"Where the hell were you?!" Norris growled. "I was close to believing you were captured, for how absurd that is!"
Eli rubbed his sore gut and smirked. "My apologies, my leader, but I got held on the return trip. Not sure if you know this, but I can only fly for so long, especially if I had to carry these two with me. I will say this, though. That storage area for all your bags on commercial airlines? Not the most comfortable place to sleep in." He shrugged. "But hey, we made it back."
Norris gave a petulant snort. "What held you up from getting back sooner?"
"Well, I didn't expect to get back on the plane when I attacked all those workers," Eli admitted nonchalantly.
Zoey raised her brow and pointed at the bag sitting on Gordon. "The hell is that, then?"
Eli smirked at the bag. "Oh, that? Just a little something I picked up. I found some rather…interesting items in the underground of that desert." He snapped his fingers, ordering Braith to throw the bag off of Gordon and slam it down, spilling out its contents.
The Rogues blankly stared at the material laying at their feet, then shot questionable glares at the dark poisoner. "Scrapped metal?" Mikayla questioned.
Eli laughed evilly and reached into his winged cloak. "Norris, I am a man of innovation. What you see before you are the stepping stones to progress. These were the remains of highly sophisticated automatons meant to protect that bunker we found." He pulled the tube of blueprints out, then uncapped it. "After experiencing that lab, we're taking a step in my neck of the woods to restore our supply." He pulled a blueprint out and handed it to Norris.
The Rogues looked over Norris' shoulder as he unfurled the blueprint. Written on the schematic was a detailed layout of some sort of handheld device, like a gun of sorts. Norris read through the components carefully, then handed the print back to Eli with a firm glare. "The hell is this?"
Eli took the blueprint, rolled it back up, and stuffed it in the tube. "What you see in my hand contains many a blueprint for the future in weaponry." Eli closed the lid and skipped around his allies. "My friends, look at us. We are supposed to be the Rogues! Feared by all who wish to push us down!" He pressed the back of his hand against his forehead in a dramatic fashion. "And yet, we're forced to scrape at the bottom of the barrel for our next meal! What kind of criminal masterminds are we?" He spun around and smirked. "And that's when it hit me. We're not acting like true criminal masterminds. We need to take things up a notch to be professionals. And it all starts with these weapons."
Mikayla narrowed her eyes skeptically. "Wait…so, you're suggesting we make these weapons to strike fear in others?"
"That'd be the simple route, but utterly cliché. We need to be feared because we have the big, scary weapons?" He snickered deviously. "We were going at this the wrong way. We shouldn't be finding weapons to make us stronger. We should be making weapons to make the rest of the scum of the Earth stronger! Making a profit off the wickedness of the corrupted!"
Sullivan's eyes widened. "You're suggesting…selling these weapons to other criminals?"
Eli smirked evilly. "I did mention almost a week ago that I was connected to the black market before joining the Rogues." He paced around. "Luckily for us, my outside connections can land us some sweet deals with the scummiest people in other cities. We might be able to find a nicer hideout than this dump. Or at least another branch of operations." He shrugged. "I have an old partner who would love to handle with the manufacturing process."
Norris glared. "How are we supposed to do this without the Fusions catching wind of it?"
The dark poisoner snickered. "Please, if the police have trouble finding and shutting down most black markets, what are the Fusions going to do? We can keep quiet and, even if they figure out we're connected, they won't be able to find us."
Mikayla narrowed her eyes. "It feels like we're stepping into risking territory."
"I never aimed high without taking the risks and odds." Eli looked at Norris. "Come on, Norris, this is the best way to solve our food crisis. We just need to make some big heists to keep food stable long enough until we get those weapons sold."
Norris looked at the other Rogues. Aside from some wary glances, they were against the idea if it meant fixing their food shortage. Eli was the expert in this field. Norris trusted his judgment if he made a good enough case. This…This was promising.
After giving it a moment of though, Norris crossed his arms. "…how soon can you get that partner of yours here?"
Eli shrugged. "Could take some time. Haven't had contact with him in years."
Norris closed his eyes and scowled. "…fine. If this plan of yours guarantees food, you have my full approval." The others nodded in agreement.
Eli tapped his fingers together with a sinister grin. "Oho…thank you, Norris. You won't be disappointed."
